Gary Ablett received a boost ahead of the game on the south coast when the Football League allowed County to bring their squad up to a full compliment of 20 fit players and register Liam Bridcutt.

And the Chelsea reserve skipper, who has agreed to move to Edgeley Park on loan until January, was thrown straight into the action in place of James Vincent who dropped to the bench.

Brighton included James Tunnicliffe and Liam Dickinson in their starting line-up. Gary Dicker and former Hatters loanee Craig Davies were named amongst the Seagulls' subs.

Carl Baker served notice of intent on the home defence inside the first 12 seconds when he burst forward from the kick off and found Danny Pilkington. Just as he was about the pull the trigger Tommy Elphick came across with a timely intervention.

Bridcutt's then began his County career with a yellow card on ten minutes after bringing down Nicky Forster.

From the resultant free kick Elliott Bennett hit the wall; the wall again did its job from Bennett's follow up.

Liam Dickinson had the home crowd out of their seats with a powerful 25-yard drive a minute later which needed a flying save from Owain Fon Williams at the expense of a corner.

Michael Rose then gave away a free kick and was booked for contesting the decision. Dean Cox flighted the kick into the box to Adam Virgo who headed just over.

County responded with a brilliant Baker run along the bye-line from the corner flag. He tried to pull the ball back to Peter Thompson but Tunnicliffe was alive to the danger and made a good clearance.

Midway through the half Fon Williams was called into action again to turn Virgo's free kick around the post.

The goalkeeper was in the wars on 25 minutes when, going for a cross, he was clattered by Elphick who was promptly shown a yellow card.

And the Welshman may still have been a little shaky three minutes later when Forster stooped to nod Bennett's cross inside the far post.

The Hatters weren't behind for long, though. A move started on the left with David Poole was worked to the right to Pilkington who picked our Baker at the back stick and the former Morecambe striker made no mistake.

Tow minutes later Baker jinked to the edge of the box and appealed for a penalty when his shot hit the arm of a home defender.

Another terrific Bennett cross on 40 minutes was right on Dickinson's header; the former County favourite missed the target.

The Hatters finished the half strongly and Elphick had to make a saving tackle to deny Thompson.

And then Tansey shot wide following good work from Bridcutt and Pilkington.

Brighton came out of the traps in the second half flying and, after Virgo saw an effort tipped round the post by Fon Williams, they won a penalty when Michael Raynes brought down Dickinson.

The Seagulls knew striker wanted to take it but was over-ruled by Forster. He failed to add to his tally, though, as Fon Williams made a great save, diving to his right, to turn the ball onto the post.

The Hatters went in front for the first time this season on 64 minutes. And what a goal it was. Baker ran\n at the Brighton defence and created space for a shot. Instead of hitting the ball with his right foot, though, he came back onto his left and chipped an absolute beauty over the keeper and two defenders from the edge of the box.

The eventful game was all square five minutes later when Dickinson hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner; typically, and to his credit, Dicko didn't celebrate the goal against his former club.

Within a minute Brighton's joy turned to despair when Elphick received a second yellow for a reckless lunge at Thompson.

And five minute later things got even worse for the home side. Graeme Smith made a great save to deny Poole but, when Thompson looked certain to score from the rebound he was pulled down by Colin Hawkins. The sub had barely been on the field when he was shown a straight red car.

Bake stroked home the resultant penalty to complete a brilliant hat trick.

The impressive Bridcutt then released Poole who brought a fine double save out of Smith.

Despite being down to nine men Brighton were showing plenty of spirit and, on 82 minutes, Fon Williams needed to save Mark Wright's far post volley after he was set up by Tunnicliffe.

A minute later a weak Fon Williams punch saw the ball land at the feet of Andrew Crofts who shot wide from the edge of the box.

The Hatters were reduced to ten men six minutes from time when Bridcutt was shown a second yellow for kicking the ball away.

But a nervous finale, in which the referee played six extra minutes, was eased when Oli Johnson latched onto a pin-point cross from Rose and went onto round Smith to score with a minute of normal time remaining.